On the way down the street to his home he met Dr. Stone, who was also riding, and reined in.
“My mother—how is she, doctor?” he asked. “I've been away since I saw you yesterday.”
“You'll really be surprised when you see her,” the old man smiled. “She's tip-top! I never saw such a change for the better in all my experience. She had old Linda in her room when I was there about noon, and they were laughing and cracking jokes at a great rate. She'll pull through now, my boy. I tried to get her to tell me what had happened, but she threw me off with the joke that she had changed doctors and was taking another fellow's medicine on the sly, and then she and Linda laughed together. I believe the old negro knew what she meant. I'll tell you one thing, Carson, if I wasn't afraid of hurting your pride I'd congratulate you on what happened to that chap Willis. Really, if that thing hadn't taken place you and he would have had trouble. Some think he was getting ready for you when he was shooting at that target.”
“Perhaps so, doctor,” Carson said, glad that the dusk veiled his face from the old man's sight. “Well, I'll go on.”
At the carriage gate at home he found old Lewis standing ready to take his horse.
“Hello!” Carson said, with a joke that was foreign to his mood; “when did Major Warren discharge you?”
“Hain't discharge me yit, young marster,” Lewis smiled, in delight, as he opened the gate and reached out for the bridle. “I knowed you'd be along soon, en so I waited fer you. Marse Carson, Linda powerful anxious ter see you. She settin' on yo'-all's veranda-step now; she been axin' is you got back all evenin'. Dar she come now, young marster. I'll put up yo' horse.”
“All right, Uncle Lewis,” and Dwight, seeing the old woman shambling towards him, went across the lawn and met her.
“Oh, young marster, I been waitin' fer you,” she said. “I got some'n' ter ax you, suh.”
“What is it?” he asked: “If it is anything I can do I'll be glad to help you.”